CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

The spiritual development of children is a fundamental responsibility of the Christian Church, as children represent both the present and future of the faith community. In Christianity, early spiritual formation is considered essential for building strong moral character, biblical understanding, and lifelong commitment to God. Proverbs 22:6 emphasizes this responsibility by instructing believers to “train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

Sunday School programmes have long been a key instrument for Christian education and spiritual nurturing of children. Within the Anglican Church, Sunday School is a structured programme designed to teach children Bible stories, Christian doctrines, moral values, prayers, hymns, and the principles of Christian living. It serves as an entry point into deeper faith formation and church participation. According to the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Sunday School is an essential ministry aimed at nurturing children into spiritually mature and morally responsible Christians (Church of Nigeria, 2026).

The Anglican Church in Nigeria, one of the largest Christian denominations in Africa, has maintained Sunday School as a core component of its educational and spiritual system since the missionary era. Through trained teachers, structured curriculum materials, and periodic assessments, the Church seeks to ensure that children receive consistent biblical instruction across dioceses.

However, the effectiveness of Sunday School programmes in promoting genuine spiritual development among children has become a subject of increasing concern. In many Anglican parishes across Nigeria, especially in urban and semi-urban areas, children are exposed to competing influences such as social media, peer pressure, secular education, and changing cultural values. These influences sometimes weaken the impact of religious instruction received in church settings.

Spiritual development in children involves more than memorization of Bible verses or participation in church activities. It includes internalizing Christian values such as obedience, honesty, prayer life, compassion, and fear of God, which are reflected in behaviour both inside and outside the church environment. According to Ojo and Akinwale (2021), effective Sunday School programmes should result in observable behavioural transformation and strong spiritual discipline among children.

In Nigeria today, concerns have been raised about declining moral standards even among children who regularly attend church programmes. Some children who participate in Sunday School still exhibit behavioural issues such as dishonesty, disobedience, poor respect for authority, and lack of spiritual commitment. This raises questions about the adequacy of teaching methods, teacher training, parental involvement, and curriculum relevance.

In Anglican Churches in Lagos State and other urban centers, Sunday School teachers often face challenges such as overcrowded classes, limited teaching materials, lack of continuous training, and insufficient support from parents. These challenges may reduce the effectiveness of spiritual instruction and hinder proper child development.

Therefore, this study examines the influence of Sunday School programmes on the spiritual development of children in Anglican Churches in Nigeria, with specific reference to selected churches in Lagos State.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Despite the long-standing emphasis on Sunday School programmes in the Anglican Church in Nigeria, concerns remain about their effectiveness in achieving meaningful spiritual development among children. While Sunday School attendance remains relatively high in many parishes, the expected level of spiritual maturity and moral transformation among children is not always evident.

One major problem is the gap between biblical knowledge and spiritual practice. Many children are able to recite Bible verses and answer doctrinal questions but struggle to demonstrate corresponding Christian behaviour in their daily lives. This suggests that Sunday School may be more focused on cognitive learning rather than holistic spiritual formation.

Another challenge is inadequate teaching methods used in some parishes. In certain cases, Sunday School is conducted using outdated or teacher-centered approaches that do not actively engage children. Modern educational research emphasizes interactive and experiential learning, which is often lacking in some church settings.

Furthermore, there is the issue of insufficiently trained Sunday School teachers. Many teachers are volunteers who may not have formal training in child psychology, pedagogy, or Christian education methodology. This can affect the quality of instruction delivered to children.

In addition, environmental and societal influences such as television, internet exposure, peer pressure, and urban lifestyle in places like Lagos State significantly affect children’s spiritual formation. These external factors often compete with or weaken the influence of Sunday School teachings.

Parental involvement is another concern. In many cases, parents rely solely on the church for the spiritual upbringing of their children, without reinforcing lessons at home. This lack of cooperation between home and church reduces the overall impact of Sunday School programmes.

The problem of this study, therefore, is the apparent inconsistency between Sunday School instruction and the actual spiritual development of children in Anglican Churches in Nigeria. This study seeks to investigate whether Sunday School programmes significantly influence the spiritual growth of children or whether their impact is limited by structural, instructional, and environmental factors.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

The main objective of this study is to examine the influence of Sunday School programmes on the spiritual development of children in Anglican Churches in Nigeria.

Specifically, the study seeks to:

1. Examine the nature of Sunday School programmes in Anglican Churches.
2. Assess the level of spiritual development among children in the Church.
3. Identify factors affecting the effectiveness of Sunday School teaching.
4. Determine the relationship between Sunday School programmes and children’s spiritual development.

1.4 Research Questions

1. What is the nature of Sunday School programmes in Anglican Churches in Nigeria?
2. What is the level of spiritual development among children in the Church?
3. What factors influence the effectiveness of Sunday School teaching?
4. What is the relationship between Sunday School programmes and children’s spiritual development?

1.5 Research Hypothesis

H₀ (Null Hypothesis):
There is no significant relationship between Sunday School programmes and the spiritual development of children in Anglican Churches in Nigeria.

H₁ (Alternative Hypothesis):
There is a significant relationship between Sunday School programmes and the spiritual development of children in Anglican Churches in Nigeria.

1.6 Significance of the Study

This study will be useful to Anglican Church leaders by providing insights into the effectiveness of Sunday School programmes in shaping children’s spiritual lives. It will help improve curriculum design, teaching methods, and teacher training.

It will also benefit Christian educators and religious scholars by contributing to knowledge on child spiritual formation and church-based education in Nigeria. Additionally, it will assist parents in understanding their role in reinforcing spiritual teachings at home.

Furthermore, the study will serve as a reference for future researchers interested in Christian education, child development, and church ministry effectiveness.

1.7 Scope of the Study

This study focuses on Sunday School programmes in Anglican Churches in Nigeria, with particular reference to selected churches in Lagos State. It examines the influence of these programmes on the spiritual development of children.

1.8 Operational Definition of Terms

• Sunday School: A church-based educational programme designed to teach children biblical and moral lessons.
• Spiritual Development: The growth of a child in Christian faith, values, and moral behaviour.
• Children: Members of the church typically between ages 5–14 participating in Sunday School.
• Anglican Church: A Christian denomination within the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion).
• Programme: Structured church activities aimed at teaching and discipling children.